Charlotte County schools look to cell towers for money

Strapped for cash, Charlotte County Schools found a new way to raise money by allowing cell phone towers to be built on school property.

On Friday, the county broke ground on its first tower at Lemon Bay High School in Englewood.

The company installing the tower is Milestone Communications, which specializes in installing cell phone towers that come from partnerships with communities.

The company provided information to students and parents through public meetings and addressed any health concerns.

"The RF energy from your phone is higher than if you're standing directly underneath a tower," said Milestone's director of business development Jennifer Bond.

The school board was also satisfied with several health studies from groups like the American Cancer Society and World Health Organization showing there is little health risk.

The tower will be built near the athletic fields and is described as 120-feet monopole that will be able to carry five different cell phone companies.

Schools will make at least $30,000 a year on the deal, plus a $25,000 payment they got just for offering the site. The revenue will go up by three percent each year and the more cell carriers that join the tower, the more the schools make.

School board chairman Ian Vincent said the money is badly needed.

"Our school district, like all school districts, are in a struggle for dollars right now,” said Vincent. “So anything we can do, any out of the box thinking for revenue, is going to be a win for us.”

The school system had to make several cuts in recent years, including teachers. That's why another tower will be going up at Port Charlotte Middle School later this year. They money goes right into the operating budget.

"Anywhere we can earn additional revenue, or save operating dollars, is going to be a win for the district and the students," Vincent said.